Festival void in Seaford may be revisited

SEAFORD — Many municipalities in Delaware have signature festivals or events.

In Bridgeville, it’s the Apple-Scrapple Festival. Laurel’s claim to fame is its Independence Day celebration. Selbyville has the Old Timers’ Day Classic Car & Family Festival, and Rehoboth Beach brews up the Sea Witch Festival each year.

Similarly, in Seaford, for several decades, the city sponsored Riverfest. But it was discontinued after the 2023 event, due, in part, to a lack of volunteers and participation, organizers cited.

In its place, leaders planned to continue Riverfest’s biggest draw, the Float-In. However, they canceled it in July due to stormy weather and the poor quality of the Nanticoke River at the time.

Nevertheless, Mayor Matt MacCoy said he believes the city should reconsider hosting a festival-type gathering.

“The best I can summarize at this time is, I think it is worth reevaluating,” he said this week. “At this point, we want to get with a committee and get a feel for what they might want to take on.

“The city is kind of evolving in real time. Would a festival benefit the city, residents and businesses? It is worth revisiting.”